Origin, Meaning, Family History and Morgan Coat of Arms and Family Crest

Morgan Origin:

Ireland

Origins of Name:

The surname of Morgan has roots in both Gaelic and Celtic languages. The original spelling of this surname comes from the personal name of “Morcant” and was changed to “Morgan” in medieval times. This surname can be translated to mean “chief of the sea” or “defender of the sea.” It comes from the Welsh components of “mor” which can be translated to mean “sea” and “cant” which can be converted to mean “circle.” The definite meaning of this surname is widely debated, but most can agree on “defender of the sea.” The feudal spelling of Morgan comes from the elements “mor” which can be translated to mean “sea” and “gan” which can be deciphered to mean “born of.” Thus, all put together, it is commonly believed that the surname of Morgan literally translates to “born of the defender of the sea.”

Variations:

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Morgan can be found in the country of England. One person who was named John Morgan was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Berkshire in the year of 1214. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of King John I of England, who was commonly known as throughout the ages as one “The Lackland.” King John I of England ruled from the year of 1199 to the year 1216. Those who assume the surname of Morgan can be found in the areas of Herefordshire and Lancashire.

Scotland:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Morgan in the country of Scotland was in the year 1419. One person by the name of Jon Morgane was named as a burgess of Glasgow. Those who carry the surname of Morgan in the country of Scotland can be found in large concentrations in the areas of Fife, Aberdeenshire, and Glasgow.

Wales:

The surname of Morgan is one of the most prominent surnames in the country of Wales. The first recorded spelling of the surname of Morgan in Wales was in the year of 1538. One person by the name of Thomas Morgaine was mentioned as a Knight of Monmouth. The importance of the surname of Morgan is also realized in the name of the kingdom of Glamorgan, which is a form of “Ap Morgan” which can be loosely translated to mean “the son of Morgan.” Those who bear the surname of Morgan are found in large concentrations throughout the country of Wales. The areas that have the largest population of those people who have the surname of Morgan are within the counties of Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire, and Monmouthshire.

Ireland:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Morgan in the country of Ireland appears in the year of 1654. One person by the name of Edward Morgane was mentioned as living in the city of Dublin, Ireland on April 26th of the year 1654. The areas where those who are known by the surname of Morgan are most prominent are in Leinster and Ulster.

United States of America:

During the European Migration many European citizens moved to America. The first person with the surname of Morgan to arrive was Benedict Morgan, who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts in the year 1621. Those who are called Morgan are found mostly in Illinois, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and in Ohio.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Morgan: United States 314,867; England 68,999; Nigeria 51,658; Australia 27,139; Wales 23,287; South Africa 22,738; Canada 19,589; Ghana 14,139; Jamaica 13,671; Mexico 7,486

Notable People:

William Morgan (1930-2016) who was an architect and author from America, and who was the recipient of the AIA Florida Award of Merit in the year of 1964

Dennis Morgan (1952-2015) who was an NFL running back from the year 1974 to the year 1975

Rex Morgan (1948-2016) who was an NBA player on the team named the Boston Celtics from the year 1970 to the year 1972

Jane Ann Morgan (1951-1988) who was an attorney from London, England, who was aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit at the time of the crash, which is now known as the Lockerbie Bombing in 1988, and who did not survive the crash of the vessel

Barbara Radding Morgan (born in 1951) who is a former NASA astronaut who has over 305 hours in space

Harry Morgan (1915-2011) who was born with the name Harry Bratsberg, who is a TV actor who is most notably recognized for his portrayal of Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the popular TV show M*A*S*H

Linda J. Morgan, who was a Democratic politician from America, and who served as a Member of the Interstate Commerce Commission from the year 1994 to the year 1995

Morgan Coat of Arms Meaning

The four main devices (symbols) in the Morgan blazon are the lion, griffin, eagle and rose. The two main tinctures (colors) are gules and or.

Red in heraldry is given the name Gules, sometimes said to be the “martyr’s colour”1The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P36. The colour is also associated with Mars, the red planet, and the zodiacal sign Aries 2Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P53. Later heralds of a more poetical nature would sometimes refer to the colour as ruby, after the precious stone.3A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P77.

The bright yellow colour frequently found in coats of arms is known to heralds as Or, or sometimes simply as Gold.4Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 27. Along with, argent, or silver it forms the two “metals” of heraldry – one of the guidelines of heraldic design is that silver objects should not be placed upon gold fields and vice versa 5A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P85. The yellow colour is often associated with the Sun, and the zodiacal sign of Leo.6Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P53.

The art of heraldry would be significantly poorer if we were without the lion in all its forms. Most general works on Heraldry devote at least one chapter solely to this magnificent creature and its multifarious depictions 7A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P1728Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 639Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P140. Some of the earliest known examples of heraldry, dating right back to the knighting of Geoffrey of Anjou in 1127, where he is shown with six such beasts upon his shield 10A Treatise on Heraldry, J. Woodward, W & A.K Johnston, Edinburgh & London, 1896, P45 .The great authority on heraldic symbology, Wade, points out the high place that the lion holds in heraldry, “as the emblem of deathless courage”11The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P60, a sentiment echoed equally today.

In the mediaeval period there was no real percieved difference between real and mythical animals, after all, much of the world remained unknown and who was to say what strange and magical creatures existed in distant lands? As heraldry developed a whole menagerie of imagined creatures 12Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P164 came into being, and their various representations became more or less standardised in form and appearance. The griffin is perhaps the most common of these creatures, being a chimera with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. 13A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Griffin. It is most often in the pose known as rampant segreant, on its hind legs with claws and wings extended. Vinycomb has much to say on the subject of the griffin, perhaps summarised in his belief that it represents “strength and vigilance”.]14Fictitious & Symbolic Creatures…in British Heraldry, J. Vinycomb, Chapman & Hall, London, 1906, P150

Where the lion is undisputed king of the animals, the eagle undoubtedly plays the same role in the realm of the birds, its use in this form dating back to at least the Roman period 15A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Eagle. They tend to be illustrated in quite some detail, especially in continental European arms, and have almost as wide variety of postures and accessories as the lion, well illustrated in the reference 16A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P235-238 as well as being just the eagle’s head or eagle’s leg. The symbology of the eagle is deep and complex, Wade devotes several pages to the subject 17The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P72-74, but suffice it say that it has long been associated with Empire and those held in high honour – any armiger would be pleased to have any form of Eagle upon their arms!